Loudly entering his small flat, being probably the one making the most noise in the whole building, Naruto slammed his door close. Meanwhile, he got out of his shoes before arriving in three deafening steps into his bedroom to let himself fall on his still untidy bed.

He failed, again.

Angrily, he caught his pillow and stuck it in a hug probably lethal for a living being. Maybe he should've gone training to use all this frustration accumulating since his come back. Sighing with irration, he sank his face against the white fabric, grumbling this time with annoyance.

He started to believe that, those stupid Hyuuga guards were sending him up and were making fun of him since he kept coming back in front of them several times per day, asking at the top of his lungs to see Hinata.

"It's you the moron who keep going back even though you know that-"

But today, Naruto thought with enthusiasm, ignoring Kurama. The fun's over!

He had made up his mind. He wasn't going to let them get in his way, and he didn't care if he was knocked out by Hyuuga Hiashi in person, he was longing for too long to see the beautiful kunoichi with her big deep eyes, pure and soft and... fond...

His stomach was overrun by a tornado of butterflies carelessly flapping their wings to his heart, beating louder and quicker in his chest where waves of his uncontrolled euphoria were discharging despite the pressure of the pillow.

A shiver went along his shine. He tightened his grip and let out a new sigh.

A new inexplicable thing.

This battle within him, this contrast between feeling good and feeling hurt, were both disagreeable and pleasant.

On one hand, he was in great shape like never before. He was feeling alive, accepted, real. In the other hand, he couldn't control his shudder and all his organs were in pain as if he was sick.

The most inexplicable was that, he felt like this only when he saw, felt or thought about Hinata. It was as if he was about to explode at any moment, but he didn't have to worry about it because everything was... normal?

Since when did he feel pleasure though his own suffering?

"You felt the same thing when you declared your love for her." Kurama played with his eyebrows, in a half-teasing and a half-desperate way. "And you're not sick, you're just in love, it's nothing complicated. Oh! Wait. Sorry, I forgot you're born dense!"

Stupid fox!

There was a short silence in which the bijuu scrutinised the jinchuuriki.

Oh! How Naruto hated when his companion was right. When everything he was whispering to tease him, to drive him nuts, sounded obvious once he was aware of it!

Of course he wasn't sick, he was in love!

A foolish smile stretched his whiskered and now burning cheeks. He then rolled while screaming a kind of whine in his pillow to relieve his shaking limbs.

Love - that opposite feeling of hate, opposing everything he always had as a child - was even better than the admiration and acknowledge he had wanted to have from others.

At that time, he was so focused on his training, on his mission, on his rivalry, on his survival, that he had never thought he would've been in love one day.

Now that everything was over, that he was an accomplished shinobi, his head and soul were both a complete mess. It was as if his surroundings were blurry, as if his sight was narrowed so that only Hinata could be the center of his attention, so that he could only see the one he loved.

Falling back on his stomach, the pillow still in his grip, he looked up, suddenly feeling a discomfort with his prosthetic.

Eyebrows frowned, he fold and unfold his fingers.

It's crazy! He could still feel Hinata's hand in his.

He remember he found her hand so tiny and at the same time, so strong. A little bit like...

...the feeling of her full lips against his.

Carefully, as if he was afraid it was going to disappear, taking with it the sensations and the good memories, he brushed against the outline of his mouth with the tip of his fingers before tapping his lips really, really, lightly.

Goosebumps ran up and down the nape of his neck and arms. His guts knotted. Blood throbbed in his ears and every nerves trembled as if they were welcoming jets of pure joy.

Kissing Hinata was and will remain the best decision he had ever made on an impulse. When he saw her, looking like a goddess under the moon and stars light just above them, he didn't think. He wasn't in control of himself. Caressing her skin, seeing her close her eyes to give in to him, he had captured her lips to melt against her.

Pictures flashed before his eyes. His smile widened, going up to his ears, tensing a bit more his cheeks' muscles already well tensed. His heart raced again.

Was it possible to die from a heart attack provoked by joy?

As he was about to lay his head on the pillow again, a bright colour caught his attention. He then saw the red, worn and dirty piece of scarf she had made countless time for him, without complaining.

Seeing the stitches was like a wake-up call for him.

Stupid Naruto!

Again, he grumbled and rolled on his back, pillow on his stomach, forearm on his eyes and breath broken as if he had ran several kilometers.

The truth was, he just got himself excited for nothing.

"Hyuugas aren't allowed to go outside, orders of the ero-sensei who's hokage now."

He couldn't see her.

How could Kakashi keep him away from Hinata like that?

On one hand, Naruto and Hinata had never been this close, on the same wavelength, emotionally speaking. In the other hand, they had never been this far from each other, physically speaking.

It took so many years for him to realise that, since the beginning, she was more than a friend to him, that she was a safe support, that she was a sweetheart in a world full of brutes, that she saw him and only him.

A part of her had always lived in his heart. They shared the same nindo.

His self-esteem suddenly grew up. He clearly couldn't make her wait again.

Jumping on his feet, he dug the scarf in his pocket and sat at his genkan to put his shoes on.

I won't give up! The day wasn't over yet, he could still go back to the Hyuuga's compound and-

Three knocks stopped his train of thoughts.

It was Rock Lee, creating steam with his nose pressed against his window while making grand gestures.

The jonin had climbed on the roof of his floor in order to avoid Naruto's fangirls waiting at his flat entrance.

"Don't tell me you do that everyday!" he murmured.

Naruto was closing his window from outside, leaving his flat without being seen. He then turned towards his companion, sheepishly scratching his head.

All Konoha villagers knew to what extent his fans' visits had changed his neighbourhood. The calm, dark and slightly dodgy place had welcomed shops, restaurants, a cinema and the building got renovated. The animation of the machines, the population and the young girls were now a part of his routine. He would often apologise to his neighbours about the disruption, but they were too happy to live in the same building as him to report to the police.

"Only for emergencies-ttebayo."

As they were jumping from roof to roof to not be delayed, Lee told him about the vague mission order he received from Kakashi, asking them both to come at the Hokage tower.

They then concluded it was important.

Still. Lee may have accepted their superior's decision without protesting, Naruto was going to tell his former sensei that he had other things to do today.

For God's sake, he just came back from a mission, didn't he deserved a good rest?

He sighed as he knocked three times on the door, making their presence known, but Lee's good mood was contagious.

He then made up his mind; whatever their Hokage will give them to do, he'll finish this mission before diner to be able to enjoy his afternoon peacefully, he promised himself as the open the office door.

"'Enjoy your afternoon peacefully'? You're kidding, right? You just want to go boast at the Hyuuga girl's compound."

"...but of course, I truly understand. I'm sure it would be a pleasure for Naruto and Lee to accompany you, priestess."

Noticing the whole room was filled with shinobi from another country, Naruto got confused and forgot everything he just thought about and what Kurama had just whispered to him.

Without moving, his gaze met Lee's who was as shocked as him.

When the aforesaid priestess at the center of the room stood up at their arrival, his blue eyes met hers and he recognised her right away. Her blonde hair stopped now at her shoulders and the new crown she had on her head looked heavy, but what changed the most about her were her relaxed face and her calmer behaviour. She seemed less bossy.

"Ah! Speak of the devil. Come on in and Naruto, please close the door behind you." Kakashi asked from behind his desk.

With a smile replacing their stupefied expression, the two shinobi greeted those already in the room as Naruto did what he was told.

*****

Speechless, Hinata couldn't believe she was in front of Naruto's building. The crowd was so thick, it was impossible to go through. Wasn't it much larger that usually?

On the tip of her toes, she tried to measure the distance from where she was to the door.

It seemed out of reach.

Ok. No need to panic, his fans were just human beings. No need to be impressed, she had fought against worst.

Taking her courage in both hands, she tried to make her way between the bodies and the multicolour gifts, but the encouragements she was silently repeating for herself were quickly thrown away by worry and doubt that were gradually spreading as the hubbub grew louder.

She was sure about it now; the number of fans had doubled.

Maybe she should come back another day. Clearly, Naruto won't have a lot of time to give her today. I'm such an idiot! She should have expected this. Why would she be the only one who want to spend time with him?

The air became rare in her lungs, her coat was too hot for her and a unpleasant taste invaded her mouth. The weight of each gaze became heavier and heavier on her back.

Almost running, she got free from this human tide.

Congratulating herself for escaping from it, she welcomed the wintery breeze as an old friend, gradually breathing in and breathing out deeply as her will reduced.

She wasn't ready.

She wanted to, but alone, she couldn't succeed at remotive herself.

Ready to turn around, to go back to the Hyuuga compound having failed to see him, she noticed the perpendicular street to the entry. Naruto had always told her she could go this way in case of emergence, but could she say today was one?

After all, she had waited for him for years. A few days more won't kill her.

No! She shouldn't think like that or else, she will really go back home.

Even though it wasn't useful, she made herself discret and got around the crowd to enter the alley forgotten in the darkness of the building and swept by the cold.

Counting the number of windows, she stopped under Naruto's and, after she checked her surrounding to be sure she was alone, she pushed on her feet, on the wall and landed on the roof.

Now close to her goal, she felt her whole body shiver again. She was about to knock on Naruto's window, to talk to him without anyone knowing about it.

Maybe they will go out for a walk, just the two of them.

Maybe they will hold hands again.

Maybe they will kiss under the moonlight...

Oh. There she was, daydreaming again. She shocked her head. For all of this to happen, she had to be able to string two words together all the while having memories of their kiss in her head and facing his blue eyes. Sometimes, she would feel he could see her own thoughts. It was so disturbing.

Getting her composure back, she knocked two times. Her courage shook and her heart beat as loud as her discret knocks. It chose the right time to threaten her to stop.

However, her attention was quickly back on what was happening in front of her. Or rather, what wasn't happening.

Curtains stayed closed, the flat stayed silent and Naruto didn't show up. Biting her lip with uneasiness, Hinata looked around her once again before activating her Byakugan.

The interior appeared before her and she carefully looked around. Every room was empty and, seeing the empty place in the entry, she understood a pair of shoes was missing.

Naruto wasn't home.

With a twinge in her heart, she deactivated her dojustsu. So, that's why she couldn't feel his presence. She slipped to the edge of the roof and jumped. So, that's why the crowd was still here. Her feet met the snowy ground.

And now?

Clenching her arms around her, Hinata decided to go home. If someone noticed she was missing, Hanabi and her would likely to be in trouble and she won't be able to go out-

Hinata suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Her sister had told her Naruto had been seen several times at the compound entrance.

Perhaps, he was there. Her heart thorbed again. Perhaps, they missed each other again. Her legs became as unsteady as jelly. Maybe if she hurried up, she would run into him. Her stomach squeezed with anticipation.

She would've liked to check her suppositions before letting her hopes rise too high, but she knew he had lower his presence to not be followed by the crowd waiting at the foot of his building. He became so good at it. She knew it. She had so often watched him trained. The way he always got back on his feet, never giving up, fascinated her, still today.

Her thoughts slowed her down until she stopped again. Her fingers fidgeted. Her teeth sank in her lower lip, biting the flesh until it hurt.

She gave up so easily earlier. Hadn't she changed since then? Had all her efforts been usefully for something? She couldn't hope for a relationship with Naruto if she wasn't capable of assuming her desires, her choice and-

"Hinata? What are you doing here?"